http://www.autoweek.com/article/20081120/FREE/811209997

 

Looks like the amount of interior room won't be changing. I drove a 350Z a couple years back and found it a fun car overall, but hindered by an incredibly cramped interior. I'm 6'2" and had claustrophobia setting in after about 10 minutes behind the wheel.

 

So much for the 3000 lb weight mark we were hearing about. I knew that wasn't going to happen.

Still, losing weight is a good thing, but this car was sort of a porker for its size / power from the beginning. Especially the convertible (~3500 lb for the 350Z convertible).

It weighs as much as the larger, much more powerful LS3 (base) Vette. Of course, the Vette costs quite a bit more than the base 370Z as well. On the other hand, load up a 370Z and you are knocking on the door of $40k (at least that is the case with the 350Z).

In an apples to avocados sidebar, the $30k starting price of the 3230 lb, 332 hp 370Z is right on top of the price of the 3860 lb (but 4 seater), 422 hp Camaro SS. Going after different tastes, no doubt, but interesting nonetheless.

 

I'd take the new 370Z over a Camaro anyday. I really like the styling update and the interior. Due to economic circumstances, I have had to put my planned purchase of a Solstice Coupe on hold. Having seen the new Z, I now have some decision making to do when I am ready to buy again.

 

The Camaro SS wins the hp-to-weight ratio by a slim margin (0.6%) however it can also carry two additional passengers.

Not to knock the 370Z. This car is far more attractive IMO than its predecessor. If something terrible happens and GM goes under and there is no Camaro, my next choice would be the Nissan.

 

I've often found that the ability to not carry backseat passengers to be a significant positive.

Besides, if I have to carry passengers, I would rather use something other than a pony (or similarly sized) car anyway.

 

I need a spot for my 95-lb Chocolate Lab!

I guess I could always make my wife walk.

 

Ah...well you see, I have a 60lb Basset Hound who would always get the best seat even if I had a wife.

 

Am I the only one who hates the new Z styling? Those hockey stick lights look... bizarre. I'd take the G37 over it any day.

 

Yes, you are the only one.

Now actually, I like the G37 a lot. However, I cannot sit in the G37 coupe without my head hitting the roof (because of the sunroof) and because I prefer an upright driving position.

If I could get a G37S without the sunroof I'd have one but you can't get a G37 w/o the sunroof unless you get the base model...the coupe, with the sunroof has almost 2" less headroom than either the 350Z coupe or the 370Z coupe (and you can forget wearing a helmet for autocrossing!).

 

I have this problem on far too many new cars. I'm not excessively tall, either (6'2"). But I prefer to sit rather upright, and I do have a rather long torso. Combine this with slightly short (for my height) arms, which force me to sit a bit closer to the wheel where the roof is not at its peak height, and you have a recipe for headliner interference.

My wife's '03 L200 has a sunroof, and I can't drive the car over long distances because my head basically wants to crash through the roof. I had this problem in my Miata, too, except I very rarely had the top up when I drove it.

As for the G37 vs. the 370Z, neither would ever be on my shopping list. But were I looking at the Nissan family, it would be the G37 in a heartbeat over the Nissan. It would have to be the convertible, it seems, based on your headroom assessment. Not that this would be a problem, as after owning my Miata, I'll take the convertible version of just about any car over its hardtop equivalent. My love for the droptops is so deep that I'd have to forego the heavenly LS7 of the Z06 in favor of an LS3 convertible if I were shopping for a Vette. (This would be no easy call, after having driven a couple of C6 Z06s and falling in lust). I guess I'd just have to tweak the LS3 a bit to bring it up to LS7 territory.

My my, I drifted off topic there. Shows how much I miss having a convertible...

Back to the 370Z, I'm still not in love with its styling, but I think it is an improvement over the somewhat ungainly 350Z (no offense, Robert). Weird headlights aside.

 

As you can see from my sig, I have a Z roadster and it's the first drop-top I've ever had - I've had several T-Tops including my '76 TA, my '79 TA and my '00 Z28 and I've always said I preferred T-Tops over a Drop-Top but I'm not so sure about that any more.

The convertible has been a blast...except on long trips where whether makes in unavoidable I don't have it out unless the top is down although at temps below 50 or above 90 it can get a bit uncomfortable!

I think I have one more outing in it this season with the top down...going to a piece of road called The Dragon (Tennessee/North Carolina border)...it's going to be chilly but I'll manage.

 

I like the looks of the 370Z quite a bit more than the 350Z. Nissan tightened up the design in several spots and even boomerang headlights fit the look of that car a lot better than on the Maxima.

Robert, what color combo did you order for your '09?

 

Unless they surprise me, it will be the new "Monterey" blue; interior will likely be the dark gray...I can live with the new blue but my roadster is San Marion blue (very dark navy blue) which is a beautiful color - I really wish they had continued it.

I really like what they've done with the interior - everything is upgraded including the instruments, computer functions, etc...much like those in my Infiniti...I also opted for the 7 spd auto with the paddle shifters; I'm not sure if I'll like them or not.

For those interested, Nissan's site for the 370Z is here: http://www.nissanusa.com/370z/?dcp=p...8949586#/home/

 

If you look on the Nissan news website, they go into some detail. The unit body is actually a little stronger and heavier, but they save lots of weight in components. It's about 300 pounds lighter than the base weight of a G37 sedan, which makes sense to me, given that you drop two seats.

Remember that Nissan was in pretty bad shape back when the 350Z was being developed, and they likely could not afford to put in the effort in weight savings. The original G35 sedan and 350Z were only about 100 pounds apart in weight.

I like the specs of this car, but the tiny greenhouse doesn't do it for me. I'd go with a G37 (which I like quite a lot).